Vaporizer



e. A. BURNHAM.

VAPORIZER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB--10; 1919 0 2. 9 IT in 9 14 km W s YM H m D1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- GEORGE A. BUBNHAM, OF SAUGUS; MASSACHUSETTS.

. VAPORIZER.

Specification of Letters latent. Pat t d O t 19 1920 Application filed February 10, 1919. Serial No. 276,060.

in Vaporizers, of which the following is a specification.

This lnventlon relates to Vaporizers, and

has for its object the construction of an improved form of vaporizer which is simple, safe, devoid of the employment of a flame and can be easily and quickly applied to existing internal combustion engines by an unskilled person without the aid of a machine.

My invention involves the employment of a thermal device in which heat is stored re- .mote from the engine and carrying said de vice to, and arranging it in heat-conducting relation with, a vaporizing element or heat-" ing device arranged as a component part of the fuel or carburation system of the engine, being adapted to impart heat to the fuel in the cranking of the engine, thereby to vaporize said fuel and cause its intimate admixture with the air required for its combustion and create a mixture adapted to be readily ignited in the engine cylinder and cause theinstant starting of the engine.

Obviously the heating device may be associated with any part of the carburation system and function as above described; but I prefer to associate it. with the intake manifold to heat the liquid. fuel and air contained therein to thereby expedite vaporizing the fuel and form a more readily ignitable mixture, as, for instance, I may interpose it at the joint between the carbureter and intake manifold.

Figure 1 represents the carbureter and intake manifold of an engine with my invention associated therewith. v

Fig. 2 is an elevation along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1, illustrating my invention with the thermal device removed.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the thermal device in position.

Fig. 4 is a plan section along lines 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing my device in position between the carbureter and intake manifold of the engine.

5 is a detail of the thermal device.

Fig. 6 is a View of my device having a modified form of supporting means for the thermal device.

Fig. 7 is a modified form of device embodying'my invention arranged in'position in a location in the intake manifold different from that shown in Fig. 1.

8 is a plan view of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the thermaldevice.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the supportin meansfor the thermal device.

As here shown, a preferred form of vaporizer embodying my invention is associated with an engine comprising a cylinder block 10, an exhaust pipe 11, an intake manifold 12 and a carbureter 13; and my vaporizer is interposed between said carbureter 13 and intake manifold 12 and arranged in the path of the fuel.

My invention includes the vaporizing element or heating device 17, which is formed as a screen or grid having high heat conductivity and held or supported by a holding plate 14, having high heat conductivity and shaped to conform to the flanges of the carbureter and intake manifold and secured in position therebetween. Said holding plate has a rabbeted opening 16 therethrough which is, or maybe, covered by the wire mesh screen 17.

Said holding means or plate 14 has an ear 18 extended laterally beyond the flanges of the carbureter and intake manifold and adapted to receive a post 19 or other form of support for the thermal device. Said post 19 has a slot in one end which receives said ear 18; and said post and ear are riv-.

eted or otherwise secured together thereby toform a unitary structure and secure a joint of low heat resistivity.

The thermal device may comprise a relatively massive body 20 which may be of cylindrical or other form having a central pocket, 21 therein adapted to receive the post 19. Said pocket is of somewhat larger diameter than the diameter of said post 19 to prevent the seizing of said post and body as the body becomes cool, yet the difference in diameter is adapted to be relatively small in order that rapid and eflicient transfer of heat from the body may be accomplished.

Thevbody 20 also has a slot 22 therein,

extending from the outside into the socket 21 which receives the ear 18. This arrangement permits the center of mass of the body to be located relatively near the' holding means and thereby facilitates the rapid and efiicient heat transference. Said body has a hole 23 extended transversely through its ing plate 40 may be disposed contiguously beneath the holding member for the vaporizing element, which results in insulating the device from the carbureter, and a heat insulating plate 42 may be disposed contiguously above said holding member which results in insulating the device from the intake manifold. Either or both insulating members may be employed. Said insulating member may consist simply of a sheet of asbestos, or it may be otherwise formed to serve the purpose.

In the operation of the device the thermal device 20 is heated to a comparatively high temperature, say cherry-red, in a gas flame or in the coals of a stove, and after being heated is carried to the vaporizer and placed in position on the post 19. Heat is immediately transferred to the vaporizing element 17 through the post 19 and holding plate, and'the temperature of said element is raised to a relatively high temperature. Upon the cranking of the engine, air and liquid fuel are drawn through the heated screen and the fuel coming in contact with the heated Wires thereof becomes vaporized and consequently mixes with the air to form a readily ignitible mixture in the cylinder of the engine. The air also becomes heated in its passage through the screen and aids in the vaporization and mixing of the liquid fuel. The result is that a mixture is formed which operates to start the engine immediately.

Due to the construction of the massive body 20 a relatively great amount of heat may be stored in the system whereby thescreen 17 may be raised to and maintained at an elevated temperature for a consider- 'ableperiod of time to thereby continue to heat the mixture passing therethrough and supply a readily ignitible mixture to the engine until the engine becomes suificiently heated to in itself vaporize the fuel. The thermal device, when not in use, may be retained in its position on the post 19 where,

by its weight and the height of the post, it will be maintained against jarring of the car, or it may be carried in any convenient receptacle in the car or left. in the garage.

It is obvious that my vaporizer may be constructed, for use on various types of'englues, and that the post 19 may assume a variety of positions relative to said vaporizer as mafy necessary. In so far as other features 0 my invention are concerned, it is not essential that any vaporizer shall have the screen 17 so long as a portion of the vaporizer'is in contactwith the mixture within the intake manifold,. although the screen is preferable.

A. modified form. of vaporizer is shown in Fig. 6 inwhich the functions of the post 19 are performed by a tube 24 riveted or otherwise secured to the plate 14. Said tube is closed at its lower end and is adapted to receive and support a heat-transferring ,body 26 and transfer the heat thereof to the vaporizer. In this modification the body 26 can obviously be formed without the socket 21.

In Fig. 7 a modified form of my invention is shown applied to the upper portion of the intake manifold and between the two branches thereof. In this modification the vaporizer consists of the tube 30 closed at its lower end and extended into the manifold, and having the head= or Wrench-receiving portion 31 and the threaded portion 32 adapted to engage the threaded opening in the intake manifold and be secured therein. The main walls of the vaporizer are, preferably, formed of relatively thin material whereby the rapid transfer of heat therethrough to the mixture in the manifold may be facilitated. The heat transferring body 33 is cylindrical in form'and is adapted to be of suitable diameter to freely fit 'within the opening 35 of said vaporizer and of such length that one nd projects above the head while the other end engages the closed end of the tube and is thereby supported.

The operation of the modification here shown is substantially the same as in the previous adaptation. The tube 30 is heated by the heated body 33, the heat being conducted along the closedend which supports said body to the upright wall" and also passing to said wall by close relationship therewith. The air and globules of fuel passing air to form a relatively readily ignitiblemixture in the cylinder of the engine.

I claim 1. The method of heating fuel supplied to an internal combustion engine which comprises storing heat-in a solid mass. of material of relatively high storage capaclty remote from the engine, and transferring said heated solid mass to the engine, and disposing said heated solid mass in heatconducting relationship with a component part of the carburation system of the engine, whereby the fuel is heated by the heat conducted through said component part from said solid heat storage mass.

2. In a vaporizer,the combination of a vaporizing element adapted to impart heat to the fuel having heat-conducting supporting means, and a thermal element removably moiinted on said means.

3. In a vaporizer, the combination of a heat-conducting vaporizing element adapted to impart heat to the fuel arranged for heat-receiving relation with a thermal element, and a movable thermal element arranged to be moved into heat-imparting relation with said vaporizingv element.

A vaporizerincluding a vaporizing element adapted to impart heat to the fuel arranged to receive a thermal element, and a thermal element removably received thereby.

5. A vaporizer, including a vaporizing element adapted to be arrangedin the path of the fuel having heat-conducting supporting means and a thermal element removably mounted on said means.

6. In a vaporizer, the combination of a vaporizing element adapted to be arranged in the path of the fuel having external heatconducting supporting means and a thermal element removably mounted on saidmeansa 7. In a vaporizer, the combination of a vaporizing element adapted to be arranged in the path of the fuel having a heatconducting support and a massive body of heat-conducting material removably mounted on said support for transferring heat to said element.

8.-In a vaporizer, the combination of a vaporizing element adapted'to be arranged in the path of the'fuel having a heat-conducting support and a cylindrical socketed body of heat-conducting material remov ably arranged on said support for transferring heat to said element.

9. Ina vaporizer, the combination of a.

vaporizing element adapted to be arranged in the path of the fuel having an upright post and a socketed body of heat conducting material removably mounted on said ost.

p 10. In a vaporizer, the combination of a vaporizing element, means for holding it in the path'of the fuel, supporting means on said holding means, and a thermal element arranged on said supporting means.

11. In a vaporizer, the combination of a heat conducting "screen, means for holding it in the path of the fuel, supporting means on said holding means and a thermal device arranged on said supporting means.

heat conducting holding plate having a hole through it adapted to be interposed at a joint in a piping system to heat the fuel, and a thermal device arranged on said plate.

15. In a vaporizer, the combination of a heat conducting plate having a hole through it and also having a laterally extended ear, a screen arranged in said hole in the path of the fuel, supporting means arranged on said ear and a thermal device arranged on said supporting means.

16. In a vaporizer, the combination of a heat-conducting "plate having a rabbeted hole through it and having a laterally extended ear, a screen set in the hole in said plate adapted to be arranged in the path of the fuel, a post arranged on said ear and a socketed heat transferring bar removably arranged on said post.

17. In a vaporizer, the combination of a vaporizing element adapted to be arranged in the path of the fuel having supporting means, heat insulating means contiguous said element and a thermal device mounted on said supporting means.

18. In a vaporizer, the combination of a vaporizing element adapted to be arranged in the path of the fuel having supporting means, a heat insulating element arranged contiguous one side of said vaporizing ele ment, and a thermal device mounted on said supporting means.

19. In a vaporizer, the combination of a heat-conducting holding plate having a hole through it and having supporting means, a heat insulating plate arranged contiguous one side of said plate having a hole through it in line with the aforesaid hole and a heat transferring body arranged on said supporting means.

20. Apparatus for heating fuel supplied to an internal combustion engine comprising a heat-conducting member adapted to be placedin the connection between the carbureter and intake manifold of the engine, an opening in said member for the passage of the mixture therethrough from the carbureter to the manifold, a screen of heatconducting material in said opening and secured in heat-conducting relationship to said member, said member being formed with a support, and a body of relatively high heat conductivity in which heat is name to this specification in the presence of adapted to be stored arranged tfi be retwo subscribing witnesses. ceived by said support to thereby eat said *1 member and said screen, whereby the air (IEORGE'A M' 5 and fuel in contact with said screen become Witnesses:

heated. 1 B. J. Nome; In testimony whereof, I have signed my I H. B. DAVIS. 

